Prague tourism information

Prague is the "Jewel in the Crown" of Central Europe and tourism plays an important role.
This Prague tourism guide presents useful information for visitors to the city.

Prague Tourism InformationPrague (Praha in Czech) was the ancient capital of Charles IV's Bohemian Kingdom, and has played a pivotal role in the development of Central Europe since the Middle Ages.

Its epic history has produced a vibrant city of stunning buildings and lovely old squares, with the result that today, Prague is one of the world's most beautiful cities.

As visitors have increased to Prague, tourism has become of vital economic importance to the city.

The effects of tourism in Prague are mostly positive. Much of the post-communism reconstruction and regeneration of Prague has been driven by tourism, as ancient buildings have been transformed into fine restaurants and stylish hotels.

Key Prague Tourism Fact: In 1992 the historical centre of Prague, all 866 hectares, was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.

Layout of Prague's City Centre - map of PragueThe city centre of Prague is divided into five areas, spanning both banks of the Vltava River. Charles Bridge is the main pedestrian connection between the two.

Key Prague Tourism Fact: Prague is a compact city. From Prague Castle on one side of the city centre to Wenceslas Square on the other (walking down through the Lesser Town, across Charles Bridge and through the Old Town), is just a 25 minute stroll. Stay in a hotel or apartment in Prague 1 (or close by in Prague 2), on either side of the river, and you can easily walk around the whole city and see all the sights and attractions.

Just outside the city centre lie other areas, which are accessible by tram and the metro: Vinohrady, Holešovice, Smichov, Karlin and Vysehrad.

And tourism in Prague has encouraged several top floor restaurants to open, offering diners stunning views over the city. Enjoy a spot of lunch in the sunshine, or watch the city light up at night: restaurants with city views.

Discover the highlights of PragueThe dramatic history of Prague is reflected in the beauty of its buildings. Once the seat of a mighty medieval empire, Prague is an open air museum best explored on foot. Our Prague tours can help you to discover the city.

River cruises are also a popular and relaxing way to see the sights, as many Prague attractions border the river.

Finally, there is food and drink! Prague restaurants have a reputation for offering good, often excellent cuisine in lovely settings, ranging from candlelit cellars to rooftop eateries with fine views over the city. And of course, there is the world famous Czech beer.

Prague in the Czech Republic, and its PeopleThe Czech Republic covers 78,864 square kilometres (30,449 square miles). It borders Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland. The highest mountain is Snezka (1604m). The longest river is the Vltava (434km), which runs through Prague.

The population of Prague is 1.2 million. The population of the Czech Republic is 10.3 million.

Czechs belong to the West Slavic group of peoples, along with Poles, Slovaks and Luatians.
Romanies (or Gypsies) form the most conspicuous minority - they are thought to descend from Indian migrants in the 15th century.

People from Central and Eastern European countries, and former Soviet Union states such as Ukraine, also migrate to Prague to work in tourism and construction.

For the best introduction to Prague, try one of our Prague city breaks: Prague Package.